Merkel

Interview with Director Eva Weber

MERKEL is Available to Buy or Rent on Amazon & AppleTV on March 25th.

Describe the film for us in your own words.

Driven by extensive archive material and incisive interviews, MERKEL tells the astonishing story of how a triple political outsider – a woman, a scientist, and an East German – became Germany’s first female chancellor and the de facto leader of the free world. A pastor’s daughter who grew up behind the iron curtain in the former DDR (East Germany), Merkel re-invented herself after the fall of the Berlin Wall to become “the world's most powerful woman” (Forbes, 2020), often outsmarting and outstaying her male opponents. However, despite her historic 16-year Chancellorship of Germany, the international public still knows very little about her.

What drew you to this story?

In many ways, making this film was a journey of personal discovery. Having grown up in West Germany, I was fascinated by how Merkel’s early life in East Germany shaped her views, values, and ultimately her leadership style. Growing up under a dictatorship gave her a deep understanding of the fragility of freedom and democracy, which informed both her personal values and her pragmatic political style.

Most of all, I was interested in exploring what it takes for a woman to succeed in politics. Merkel’s ability to hold power for 16 years in a world where male politicians dominate is itself a remarkable story. In the film the American journalist Melissa Eddy says, “She was continually underestimated, not just as a politician, but also as a woman.” The fact that she could outsmart and outlast so many male politicians—often those who underestimated her—was something that intrigued me deeply.

What do you want people to think about?

I want the audience to consider what kind of leadership the world needs now. While this is a film about a German chancellor, and by its nature deeply rooted in German (and European) politics, the resonance of Merkel’s time in power is not limited to Germany.

Merkel’s leadership, which focused on compromise and facts, stands in stark opposition to the ego-driven, combative style that has dominated much of global politics in recent years. In an era where many leaders lean into populism, Merkel's quiet, steady pragmatism is an antidote to that chaos.

This film also invites viewers to think about the unique challenges faced by women in politics. When Merkel first entered politics, she spoke freely about her upbringing in East Germany, her values, and what she cares about. In early interviews, you can see the intelligence and curiosity in her eyes, as well as a sense of vulnerability that’s often hidden behind the more guarded, controlled persona she adopted later in her career.

This shift is both a natural consequence of her rise to power and a reflection of how she had to navigate the public’s expectations as a woman, to be taken seriously.

Ultimately, I hope this film will inspire viewers to think critically about leadership, particularly female leadership, and to recognize the value of pragmatism, compromise, and humility.

What was the biggest challenge in making this?

The biggest challenge in making MERKEL was undoubtedly condensing such a rich and expansive story into a 90-minute film. Angela Merkel’s life is essentially split into two parts: her life as a scientist before the fall of the Berlin Wall and her transformation into a politician after German reunification. It’s a life that spans decades of both personal and political upheaval, and I had to make hard choices about what to include. For example, I really wanted to delve deeper into Merkel's “girl’s camp,” her inner circle of women who helped shape her, but unfortunately, there wasn’t room for it in the final version. Maybe in a follow-up, though!

Another challenge was the sheer volume of archive material. We sourced over 3,600 archival clips, nearly 2,000 photos, and a wide range of audio and video material. The archival research was an enormous undertaking, and it took time – and the help of a team of amazing archive producers and editors – to sift through it all to find the moments that truly captured the essence of her life and leadership.

In the end, the challenge was about distilling an immense, multi-faceted story into something that was both thorough and engaging, while also staying true to the complexity of Merkel’s journey.

What was the development process? How did you get green lit?

The development of MERKEL began with intensive research—months studying her life and career through personal interviews, literature, and media to capture her leadership's complexity. I created a comprehensive 70-page pitch deck that conveyed both the project's scope and my emotional/intellectual approach.

A crucial decision was telling Merkel's story from both domestic and international perspectives, balancing political history with a personal portrayal of the woman behind the public figure.

The project was brought to life by a team of incredible female producers who secured financing and support. We had backing from European co-producers and international financiers who recognized the value of Merkel's story.

Timing was significant—Merkel was ending her tenure as Chancellor when we started, creating a sense of urgency and relevance. Our presentation of her story with humor, political depth, and humanity helped secure funding.

What inspired you to become a storyteller?

I’ve always been drawn to stories that explore the complexities of human nature, especially those that challenge our assumptions. From a young age, I was fascinated by how films could transport you into different lives, make you question the world around you, and ultimately help you see things from another perspective.

As a filmmaker, I’m often drawn to subjects that may seem mundane at first glance— like personal storage units or construction cranes —and I strive to capture the key details that make these ordinary things appear extraordinarily beautiful. It's about finding meaning in the overlooked and giving audiences a chance to see the world in a different light.

What advice do you have for other female creatives?

For this, I think I will stick with Kathryn Bigelow, whom I greatly admire. In an interview about her work as writer-director of Blue Steel (1989), she noted, “If there’s specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can’t change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.”

Name your favorite woman directed film and why.

Lynne Ramsay has been a huge inspiration for my work, and while I find it hard to pick just one of her films, it's really the entirety of her body of work that resonates with me. What I admire most about Ramsay is her ability to craft visually and emotionally immersive films that defy genre conventions, challenge traditional storytelling, and explore the darker, more complex aspects of the human condition—all while staying true to her artistic vision.

I deeply admire the way she uses not only images, colour palettes and editing to shape characters and narratives, but also her use of sound design and score to reveal her characters' innermost selves. Whether it's the muted, haunting cinematography of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN or the use of music and sound in YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, Ramsay makes the audience feel as though they are inside the fractured, damaged minds of her characters.

Yet, above all, I love Ramsay’s unflinching commitment to her vision. Despite the critical acclaim she has won, her career has been anything but straightforward. Yet, she has not only survived but continues to excel in an industry where being 'difficult' is often seen as sign of genius in men, but rarely in women.

Feel free to share anything else you would like people to know about this film.

MERKEL reveals a leader who operated in a very different way than many of her counterparts, always prioritizing the greater good over personal glory. At a time when many world leaders seem to prioritize division, Merkel’s story is one of unity, modesty, and intelligence.

One of the most rewarding aspects of making the film was being able to show a side of Merkel that is often overlooked—her sense of humor. She has impeccable comic timing, and it’s something that doesn’t always come through in portrayals of her. I wanted to make sure that viewers saw the human side of her leadership, the warmth and wit that often get lost in her more serious public persona.

Synopsis

Angela Merkel, the enigmatic first woman Chancellor of Germany, was Western Europe’s most powerful leader for years. Clear-eyed, cool-headed, diligent, and methodical, she put her politics first, setting ideology aside. An East German pastor’s daughter, Merkel re-invented herself after the fall of the Berlin Wall, often outsmarting and outstaying her male opponents in her historic Chancellorship of Germany. Using vast archive materials and interviews with those who know her – friends, journalists, political allies, and critics – the film creates a rich portrait, from Merkel’s upbringing in communist East Germany, studies in quantum chemistry, her surprising start in politics and fast ascent. Merkel’s success came despite the double standards facing women leaders – the hard judgment and incessant scrutiny – and the film makes a case for politics marked by truth and integrity. It is a thoughtful re-examination of her life and career told with humor, subtlety, and poignancy.

Trailer

Bio

A German, London based director working in documentary and fiction, Eva Weber has found acclaim with films like the feature documentary MERKEL (“A Revealing Portrait of a Woman Who Led ‘Without Ego’” – IndieWire), the 27 minute documentary THE SOLITARY LIFE OF CRANES (“one of the most absorbing documentaries of the year” – Observer), the mid-length documentary BLACK OUT (“Eye-opening… moves seamlessly between the straightforward and the poetic” – Hollywood Reporter), and the fiction short FIELD STUDY (European Film Awards nomination).

Eva’s multi-award-winning films have screened at 100+ festivals, including Sundance, Telluride, SXSW, Hot Docs, BFI London, True/False, Sheffield, and IDFA. She is the recipient of a Sundance Institute Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award; and a Sundance Screenwriters Lab, Directors Lab, and Composers & Sound Design Lab Fellow.